ABSTRACT
Proctology is one of the surgical specialties that suffered the most during COVID-19 pandemic. Using data from a cross-sectional worldwide web survey, we aimed to snapshot the current status of proctologic practice in Italy with differences between three macro areas (North, Centre, South). Specialists affiliated to renowned scientific societies with an interest in coloproctology were invited to join a 27-item survey. Predictive power of respondents' and hospitals' demographics on the change of status of surgical activities was calculated. The study was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04392245). Of 299 respondents from Italy, 94 (40%) practiced in the North, 60 (25%) in the Centrer and 82 (35%) in the South and Islands. The majority were men (79%), at consultant level (70%), with a mean age of 46.5 years, practicing in academic hospitals (39%), where a dedicated proctologist was readily available (68%). Southern respondents were more at risk of infection compared to those from the Center (OR, 3.30; 95%CI 1.46; 7.47, P = 0.004), as were males (OR, 2.64; 95%CI 1.09; 6.37, P = 0.031) and those who routinely tested patients prior to surgery (OR, 3.02; 95%CI 1.39; 6.53, P = 0.005). The likelihood of ongoing surgical practice was higher in the South (OR 1.36, 95%CI 0.75; 2.46, P = 0.304) and in centers that were not fully dedicated to COVID-19 care (OR 4.00, 95%CI 1.88; 8.50, P < 0.001). The results of this survey highlight important factors contributing to the deadlock of proctologic practice in Italy and may inform the development of future management strategies.
Subject(s)
COVID-19/epidemiology , Colorectal Surgery/statistics & numerical data , Health Care Surveys , Health Services Accessibility , Ambulatory Surgical Procedures/statistics & numerical data , COVID-19/prevention & control , COVID-19/transmission , Elective Surgical Procedures/statistics & numerical data , Emergency Service, Hospital/statistics & numerical data , Female , Hospital Administration , Humans , Infection Control , Infectious Disease Transmission, Patient-to-Professional/prevention & control , Italy/epidemiology , Male , Middle Aged , PandemicsABSTRACT
PURPOSE: Functional results following surgery for obstructed defecation (OD) have been widely investigated, but there are few reports aimed to analyze postoperative complications and re-interventions. This study investigates the adverse events requiring retreatment for obstructed defecation. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the records of 203 patients operated on by a single surgeon, 20 transabdominally and 183 transperineally (159 manual and 24 stapled). Postoperative complications requiring retreatment and outcome of reinterventions were analyzed. RESULTS: Adverse events requiring retreatment occurred in 14.3% more frequently after abdominal than after perineal procedures (20% vs. 13.7%), but the sample size of the two arms is different. Rectal bleeding and strictures were the most common adverse events (6.9%). Major complications, i.e., ischemic colitis requiring hemicolectomy and pelvic sepsis requiring colostomy also occurred (1%). The overall reintervention rate was 7.5%, (5% after abdominal and 7.6% after perineal surgery). Overall, 59% of the reoperated patients were still constipated at a median follow up of 2 years. CONCLUSIONS: Complications requiring retreatment are not uncommon after surgery for OD and reinterventions are often unsuccessful. A careful preoperative evaluation and selection of patients should be undertaken in order to minimize adverse events.
